BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6adf2732a6d47 DTSTART:20240627T140000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20240627T160000Z LOCATION:New York\, United States of America SUMMARY:Micro-\, Small\, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day: Leveraging Power and Resilience of MSMEs CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Follow livestreamLeveraging Power and Resilience of Micro-\, Sm all and Medium-sized Enterprises to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple CrisesIn its resolution A/RES/71/2 79\, the United Nations General Assembly designated 27 June as "\;Micr o-\, Small\, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day"\; to raise public aware ness of the tremendous contributions of micro-\, small and medium-sized en terprises (MSMEs) to sustainable development. Further\, the General Assemb ly\, invited Member States to facilitate the observance of the Day by fost ering policy discussions\, practitioner workshops\, sharing of experiences and business owner testimonials from around the world\, to the extent pos sible\, in collaboration with public\, private and non-profit organization s.As we commemorate the 2024 International MSME Day\, we are just six year s away from the 2030 deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)\, and progress is lagging. Many countries continue to face a range of unique and interconnected development challenges that include a cost-o f-living crisis\, constrained fiscal space\, obstacles to accessing new so urces of development and climate financing\, and conflicts. Economic\, Soc ial and environmental challenges are compounding mounting poverty and hung er\, while rising inequalities continue to threaten the lives and liveliho ods of people in vulnerable situations in developing countries.The 2024 MS ME Day offers an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas on how key stak eholders\, including policy makers\, large companies\, financial instituti ons\, and the international community can support micro-\, small and mediu m-sized enterprises to advance and contribute to achieving sustainable dev elopment\, including poverty eradication and decent work for all. Moreover \, the session will explore ways that MSMEs\, a sector that represents ove r 90 per cent of all businesses globally\, can meaningfully contribute inn ovative solutions to the challenges of our time and drive forward inclusiv e growth and shared prosperity.However\, as revealed by the Global Sustain able Development Report (GSDR) 2024\, not all MSMEs\, especially those in developing countries\, have fully recovered from economic shocks of the Co vid-19 crisis. The fact that many MSMEs are in the informal sector is an i mpediment to long-term sustainable and inclusive economic growth prospects . To realize the full potential of MSMEs\, governments must take action to ensure an enabling policy environment for MSME innovation\, MSME formaliz ation and growth\, including by improving their access to finance\, techno logy\, market and know-how.As the sector closest to local communities\, MS MEs are essential for creating local jobs\, empowering women\, youth\, per sons with disabilities and other groups in vulnerable situations. Commemor ating MSME Day is a recognition that this vital sector at the heart of our societies has tremendous potential to unlock critical pathways to acceler ate SDG progress across the globe.The event is co-organized by the Permane nt Missions of Argentina and Indonesia\, the Department of Economic and So cial Affairs (DESA)\, the United Nations Global Compact\, the United Natio ns Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)\, the International Trade C entre (ITC) and United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).More<\;div class="\;text-align-center btn-un-wrapper my-4\n\nView meeting on unc tad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/micro-small-and-medium-sized-enterpris es-day-leveraging-power-and-resilience-msmes DTSTAMP:20261026T101058Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR